Ibori Arrested After Bid To Escape

Former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has been arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged missing funds belonging to the Delta State government. P.M.News gathered that Ibori was arrested this morning at about 11 a.m. at his Asokoro residence in Abuja and taken to the EFCC office where he is currently being interrogated.

He was said to have escaped to the Kwara State government lodge in Abuja when he discovered the presence of EFCC officials around his house.

His arrest brought to an end the cat and mouse game between him and EFCC officials who have been trying to bring him to book to answer charges bordering on alleged financial impropriety while he was governor of Delta State between May 1999 and May 2007.

London’s Metropolitan Police had earlier arrested his wife, Theresa Nkoyo, while about to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to Lagos.

The police said her arrest was “in connection with an ongoing money laundering enquiry.”

Ibori has been the subject of money laundering investigation in the UK, where his assets worth N5 billion have been frozen.

The investigation team of the Metropolitan Police has made several visits to Nigeria on the matter.

Also under arrest were some of Ibori’s associates, including Adebimpe Pogoson, described as Ibori’s special assistant, who is said to control a number of companies and bank accounts in Nigeria and third countries; Christine Ibori-Ebie, James Ibori’s sister and Udoamaka Okoronkwo Onuigbo, said to be James Ibori’s banker.

Under probe are companies and properties said to belong to the former Delta State Governor, such as Haleway Properties Ltd., Gibraltar, the property at 7, Westover Hill in the UK, valued at over 4 million pounds, the property at 42, Great Ground Street, Shaftsbury also in the UK and the company called Telston Quaye Ltd., (British Virgin Island).

Among allegations levelled against him were that he paid $20 million to Bombardier Inc. of Canada, an aircraft manufacturer, for the purpose of buying a plane.

Also being investigated is a London Barclays Bank account in the name of MER Engineering. About 2.3 million pounds in deposits were traced to the account as payments by Chevron and NNPC, within three years.